Should smoking be banned at Sandy Beach?

This week members of the Cohasset Mariner Readers Advisory Network responded to: Should smoking being banned at Sandy Beach? To join the RAN, email: mford@cnc.com

I do think that smoking should be banned, mostly because of the “role model” issue. — Mimi White

Us reformed tobacco smokers are often the most strongly opposed to smoking in public places, and the most realistically aware of the health effects of second-hand as well as first-hand smoke. But the public places we concern ourselves with are either enclosed or open space where crowding might subject non-smokers to other people’s smoke. But to ban it on a wide-open space like Sandy Beach is a needless interference with personal choice to harm oneself with smoking while having no significant effect on others, besides being unenforceable. And unenforceable rules encourage disrespect for all rules. — R. Murray Campbell

I do think that smoking should be banned, mostly because of the “role model” issue. — Mimi White

Us reformed tobacco smokers are often the most strongly opposed to smoking in public places, and the most realistically aware of the health effects of second-hand as well as first-hand smoke. But the public places we concern ourselves with are either enclosed or open space where crowding might subject non-smokers to other people’s smoke. But to ban it on a wide-open space like Sandy Beach is a needless interference with personal choice to harm oneself with smoking while having no significant effect on others, besides being unenforceable. And unenforceable rules encourage disrespect for all rules. — R. Murray Campbell

At about 10 years old, I was walking bare foot on the sidewalk in Brant Rock and stepped on a smoldering cigarette. It hurt like *#&@. I have never smoked a cigarette and think it is a filthy, self-destructive habit. We all subsidize lung disease medical costs of smokers. The fewer places people can smoke; the better. I also agree with those who think the Rocky Lane guardrail is ugly and out of character with the local surroundings. — Joe McElroy

Maybe a designated smoking area, but trying to ban smoking in a public outdoor setting, I think, is a stretch. Sitting next to a person that smokes, even outside, can be annoying but it is a “public” beach. What next banning over weight people in Speedo’s? — Roger Hill

Smoking on the beach can be annoying, but unlike a restaurant, you can move and get away from it if it’s blowing at you. I doubt that banning it would be enforceable. Who would do that? Let’s just ask that smokers be considerate of others “down wind” and dispose of the remains responsibly. —Marsha Silvia

[FULL DISCLOSURE: I am 61, smoked for many years, do not smoke any more.] I don’t see the sustainable argument for not letting people smoke on the beach. It’s the outdoors. You can — and should — police the litter problem, but the second-hand smoke issue does not exist in the open air environment, and to ban smoking for the reason that it models undesirable adult behavior — well then, why not ban people being jerks? Or rude? Or any number of other unpleasant things? — Agnes McCann

I think smoking on and sandy beach should be banned. Smoking adults and teenagers are not setting a good example for the children on the beach.

Also, non-smokers are taking in second-hand smoke. Smokers are free to smoke in areas where they are not exposing others to smoke. It is not necessary to allow smoking in family-orientated areas.

I think banning smoking on Sandy Beach is feasible because the beach smokers are a minority and their arguments would not stand up to the large amount of non-smokers and parents with young children. — Fiona McBride

There are many reasons why I think smoking on Sandy Beach should be banned. For those of us with respiratory problems it causes discomfort and we are forced to move. Children see smoking and it can influence their future choices related to tobacco. The butts left behind pollute the beach and can be consumed by birds and dogs. I hate to impose yet another rule but I think this is a health and environmental problem that needs to be addressed. Enforcing this ban should be based on the human conscience.

Thank you for asking. — Betsy Connolly

I truly shrink from curtailing the personal rights of others in what is becoming an increasingly regulated society. Yet is it a “right” to blow smelly smoke around a crystalline environment and bury butts in the sand?

Although it can be said that secondhand smoke is less a threat on the beach than it is in the Red Lion or Atlantica, I can inhale smoke from that lady’s cigarette 50 yards to windward if the breeze is just right. I should not be forced to do that. And there is something especially offensive about looking out at Minot’s light across pristine blue water and smelling a stale Philip Morris at the same time.

People struggle for years to quit the habit. I know that I did. So let’s not penalize those who have won the battle. If smokers want to light up at the beach, let them do it in their own cars — with the windows rolled up.

But feasible? Who knows? I question that such a rule could ever be enforced. — Nancy Garrison

To ban would necessitate creating another town law, which someone would have to enforce. It certainly would stretch the duties of lifeguards. Too, too much. — Margy Charles

I say smoking on the beach should be mandatory, then we can have races to see what kills you first: skin cancer or lung cancer. — Lance Norris

I’m all for banning smoking on Sandy Beach - would make for a more family friendly environment. — Motoko T. Deane

I doubt if you can ban outdoor smoking any more successfully than you can ban halitosis. Just move upwind. They’ll get the idea eventually. — John Hartshorne

I would suggest a “policy” not a law, in effect during the hours the lifeguards are on duty (similar to the dog policy). —Rick Shea

For six months I’ve worked to maintain my six-pack abs and golden skin undertones so that I could be smokin’ on Sandy Beach come July, and now some prudes want to take away my right to be hot? You’ll have to pry the Coppertone out of my cold, dead hands you flabby-bunned oppressors! — John Lengyel

Regarding the feasibility of No Smoking Sandy Beach: It would be great but I’m afraid it wouldn’t be feasible, especially since so much of the smoking and debris accumulation occurs in the evening when the beach is unmanned and not subject to constant monitoring. — Tana Carlson

I would love to see all butts on cigs extinguished! Especially since finding several butts/filters in the sand, in the parking lot and in trashcans! Since smokers on Sandy have not been responsible in disposing of their butts, banning butts should be acted upon. A big question — who/how to impose this restriction? — Mary Cirafice

I believe that smoking should be banned on Sandy Beach. As has been widely publicized, secondary smoke is a major contributor to many health diseases. The causal effects have been deemed to be even more intense than earlier anticipated and more harmful to children. Children are in frequent numbers at the beach and their proximity to secondary smoke — often to those who are not even related to these children — is a major health issue. They appear to be more at risk than adults and putting their health at risk during a time of recreation seems ludicrous.

However, even more important in my mind for eliminating smoking on the beach is the litter that such a habit causes. I have read that smoking is now the number one issue in causing litter, particularly the cigarette butts which are "flicked” indiscriminately after the smoker is finished. I pickup anywhere from 10-20 cigarette butts from my driveway each week. I find that smokers have a general disregard for others around them, and I would be hesitant to put the beauty and safety of Sandy Beach on smokers who have a demonstrated a general disregard for others. — Roger Crafts

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